Dirk Nowitzki wins NBA’s Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award

NEW YORK — Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki won the NBA’s Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award Monday evening at the NBA Awards.

“I’m pretty sure none of my teammates voted for me,” Nowitzki said jokingly. “I joke a lot with them and we have a lot of fun. I just try to make them feel welcome and get the best out of them.”

The 39-year-old NBA champion has averaged close to 22 points and eight rebounds per game since joining the club in 1999. Though the 2007 NBA MVP’s numbers have been on the downward trend over the past three seasons, he has taken on the task to mentor the likes of Harrison Barnes and Nerlens Noel, two big men the Mavs look to as the future at Nowitzki’s position.

“I want to thank my wife and my family for the continued support, and letting me stumble up and down the court for a couple more years,” he said

Nowitzki is the first Maverick to win the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award, which was first given in 2013. The 2011 NBA Finals MVP placed third in the voting in 2013-14.

The former ninth overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft is entering his 20th season in the league, and he has hinted previously that it could be his last.